First workshops on wind farm community trusts

The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has hosted the first in a series of workshops focused on wind farm community trusts. The workshop brought together community trustees, economic development managers, and representatives from both the government’s independent power producer’s (IPP) office and wind farms in the region. Participants used the opportunity to lay a foundation for ongoing support and increase effectiveness of Trusts.

The national renewables programme seeks to ensure that IPPs work in partnership with Trusts to boost local economic development and assist local government in advancing previously disadvantaged communities within a 50 km radius of the respective renewable energy projects. This structure of localised ownership has been built into the IPP business framework and goes beyond typical CSI efforts to bridge a number of socio-economic interests. Such public/private partnerships have an important role to play in strengthening local communities. The Eastern Cape hosts twelve wind farms, and was therefore selected to host the first SAWEA Provincial Community Trust Workshop.